"Grok AI exposes the real threat to women and children – and it’s not trans people"

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI and integrated into X (formerly Twitter), is facing mounting criticism after its image-generation tool was used to create non-consensual sexualised images of women and minors. The revelations have sparked outrage among governments, regulators and advocacy groups, who are calling for urgent action to address both the misuse of the technology and its wider social implications.

Reports show that Grok’s “spicy mode” enabled users to generate explicit deepfake images, including nudifying real women and even minors. A non-profit review uncovered thousands of such images circulating online, prompting investigations across Europe, Asia and Latin America. In the UK, Ofcom contacted X under the Online Safety Act.

EU officials condemned the imagery as “illegal” and demanded design-level safeguards, and authorities in India, France, Brazil and Malaysia have launched probes and threatened penalties. In response, Grok restricted image tools to paying subscribers, but critics argue this measure does little to prevent harm.

Grok AI exposes the real threat to women and children - and it’s not trans people - Not in our name

NION Women respond to the Grok AI abuse on X, exposing how real harm to women and children is ignored while trans people are scapegoated in the name of safety.

Not in our nameabyhawker

Advocacy groups have warned that the issue goes beyond privacy and consent. The campaign platform Not In Our Name issued a statement, saying: “Deploying AI that routinely sexualises or undresses women without consent entrenches harmful gender norms - and risks being weaponised to scapegoat transgender people, under the guise of targeting ‘inappropriate’ bodies.

"We reject narratives that claim to ‘protect women’ while fuelling transphobia and moral panic. These technologies must be challenged not only for their misogyny but for the way they can be co-opted to attack trans communities. Conversations about women’s safety must not become a pretext for discrimination.”

The group is calling for inclusive, rights-based regulation that addresses both gendered violence and trans scapegoating. Experts stress that regulators must enforce safer-by-design systems, independent audits and consent verification mechanisms. Activists insist that protections must explicitly guard against trans scapegoating and uphold gender inclusivity.